Ryan Bradley | December 19, 2025 | Car Accident \ Missouri Law
Key Takeaways:
- Request the official MSHP crash report as soon as possible. The sooner you spot errors, the easier it is to gather evidence and push for corrections before the evidence disappears.
- Only an officer or agency can amend the police report. You can ask for a correction if errors are present in the report. Law enforcement can then file a supplemental correction.
- File Form 1140 within the 30-day deadline. If your crash involved an uninsured driver, you must file with the Missouri DOR within 30 days of the crash date.
A police report can make or break your insurance claim. If it contains only one wrong (but crucial) detail, like a speed estimate that’s off by 20 mph, or a wrong lane position, you could be fighting an uphill battle to prove that the other driver was responsible.
If the police filed a report that includes errors, you must request corrections directly through the law enforcement agency that attended the crash. Leaving errors uncorrected could mean handing insurance adjusters ammunition to reduce or deny your claim. And defense attorneys might use the report against you in court.
Here’s how to catch and fix Missouri crash report errors before they cost you thousands in denied claims or higher premiums.
Overview: Why the 30-Day Window Matters
A wrong detail in your Missouri crash report may mean that you can’t recover the car accident damages you deserve. Insurance adjusters use these reports to determine fault and calculate payouts. If the report says you were speeding when you weren’t, or marks you for “failure to yield” when the other driver ran a red light, you’ll have trouble proving otherwise.
The problem is that most people don’t realize their report is wrong until it’s too late. Once your insurance claim is denied or a lawsuit is filed, some of the evidence you would have needed to prove your case, such as traffic camera footage, will be long gone. Witnesses may have moved or forgotten details. And the officer who wrote the report has handled hundreds of other crashes since and can’t remember yours.
That’s why you need to act fast after an accident in Missouri. While there is no deadline for requesting accident report corrections, the longer you wait, the harder it gets. And law enforcement agencies are more willing to file supplemental reports when the crash is fresh and you provide convincing evidence.
Quick Steps at a Glance
It’s tempting to put off the correction process, especially if you’re recovering from injuries and you’re trying to get your life back on track. But the correction process isn’t complicated, and the sooner you tackle it, the better your chance of getting corrections approved and filed. Here’s what you need to do:
- Request the official crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) or the local agency that attended your accident.
- Check the 29-Day Preliminary Listing on MSHP’s website (if the Highway Patrol responded).
- Read the report thoroughly, and compare every detail against your memory and photos.
- If you find an error, contact the investigating officer with evidence and ask them to file a supplemental or amended report.
- Follow up with the MSHP Patrol Records Division (or local records department) to confirm the correction was submitted.
- If your crash involved an uninsured driver, file DOR Form 1140 as soon as possible and within the 30-day deadline.
- Confirm with law enforcement that corrections were entered into the official record (STARS/MOCARS).
Step 1: Request the Official Missouri Crash Report
The official Missouri crash report is your starting point, and it’s the first thing insurance companies and courts will see and reference.
To obtain the report, request it through the MSHP online portal or by contacting the Patrol Records Division at 573-526-6113. MSHP typically handles crashes on state highways and interstates. For crashes investigated by local police or county sheriff, contact that agency’s records department, such as the Kansas City PD, or the St. Louis Metro PD. Municipal departments have their own request procedures.
You have to pay a small fee for the official crash report (MHSP charges $6, other agencies around $10), and processing time typically ranges from 3 to 10 business days. And officers don’t call to tell you a report is ready. You’ll have to be proactive and check with the relevant agency.
Step 2: Review the 29-Day Preliminary Listing for Early Errors
If the Missouri Highway Patrol responded to your crash, you’ll get an early chance to correct any glaring mistakes regarding basic facts in the report. MSHP posts a 29-day preliminary listing of accidents on its website that includes details such as date, location, and drivers involved.
While the preliminary listing doesn’t include the “meat” of the accident narrative, such as fault determinations or citations, it allows you to catch and report basic errors, like misspelled names or the wrong location. Make sure to check the MHSP website a few days after your crash and before the official Missouri crash report gets finalized.
Step 3: Identify Police Report Inaccuracies and Gather Proof
Once you have the official crash report in hand, go through it line by line, as this is where the critical errors, such as those affecting fault and liability, will show up.
Look at the contributing circumstances. Did the officer mark you for following too close, but in reality, the other driver brake-checked you? Or is the vehicle damage diagram all wrong? And take a look at the witness statements. Misquoting a witness or leaving out any crucial statements could have negative consequences for your insurance claim or lawsuit.
If you find errors, start organizing evidence to back up corrections. Gather photos from the scene showing vehicle positions and damage. And track down any dashcam or surveillance footage by contacting witnesses and nearby businesses that have cameras. If the report downplays your injuries, get medical records showing them.
Simply saying “I don’t think that’s correct” won’t get a report amended, as you’ll need concrete proof to back up your statements. Remember, if all this seems overwhelming in the aftermath of an accident, an experienced attorney can assist you.
Step 4: Ask the Investigating Officer to File a Supplemental/Amended Report
This is the most important step in correcting a police report. Only the investigating officer or agency can officially amend a Missouri police report error.
If you have the officer’s name and badge number, call the department and ask to speak with them. Politely and calmly explain the errors and offer to email or drop off your evidence.
Send a clear, organized email with your crash report number and date, and the specific fields that are wrong. Be as precise as possible and attach relevant evidence, like photos and statements.
Some agencies file supplemental reports that add new information without erasing the original file. Others issue amended reports that replace incorrect data. Either way, once your correction is filed, it becomes part of the official record.
Step 5: Follow Up with the MSHP Patrol Records Division
If the MSHP investigated your crash, the officer submits corrections through the Missouri Patrol Records Division. Even after the officer agrees to file a supplemental report, you should confirm it’s actually updated in the system.
Contact the Records Division at 573-526-6113 a few days after your conversation with the officer. Ask whether a supplemental report was filed for your crash report number. If it wasn’t, the officer may have forgotten or assumed someone else would handle it. A quick follow-up call ensures all is filed or amended correctly.
The process is similar when local agencies attend the collision. Contact the relevant records department and verify that corrections were submitted. And some departments are faster than others. For example, while rural sheriff’s offices may process changes in a day or two, big-city police departments may take a week or longer.
Speak With An Attorney About Your Case
Step 6: File Your DOR Form 1140 Self-Report (If An Uninsured Driver Was Involved)
Missouri law requires you to file Form 1140 with the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) within 30 days if your crash meets all three conditions:
- It happened in Missouri
- It occurred within the last 12 months
- Someone involved didn’t have insurance
You can skip this step if your crash involved only insured drivers. But if someone was uninsured, Form 1140 is mandatory, and the 30-day clock starts ticking on the day of the collision.
Form 1140 asks for your version of the crash. But if you submit this form before fixing errors in the police report, there could be a mismatch between your account and the official law enforcement record.
Best practice is to get the police report corrected first, then file Form 1140 matching the updated report. If you’re close to the 30-day deadline and the correction isn’t finalized yet, file Form 1140 with accurate information based on your evidence, then attach a note explaining that you’ve requested police report corrections and are waiting for confirmation.
Step 7: Confirm Updates Reached State Systems (STARS/MOCARS)
Missouri uses two main databases to track crash data: STARS (Statewide Traffic Accident Records System) and MOCARS (Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety crash database).
If the officer files a supplemental report, but it doesn’t appear in STARS or MOCARS, the correction might as well not exist. However, accident victims cannot log into STARS or MOCARS themselves to confirm. You’ll need to call the Patrol Records Division or your local agency 7-10 days after the correction was filed and ask them to confirm that the update has hit the state database.
Local Agency vs. MSHP: Who to Contact First and How
If the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to your crash, contact the MSHP Patrol Records Division. You can also use the online portal at MSHP Crash Reports or mail requests to:
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Patrol Records Division,
P.O. Box 568,
Jefferson City,
MO 65102
If a local police department or sheriff’s office responded, find the agency listed on the crash report and contact their records or traffic division:
- Kansas City PD Records at 816-234-5100
- St. Louis Metro PD Records at 314-444-5551
- Springfield PD Records at 417-864-1810
If you’re not sure who to contact, simply call the non-emergency number for the relevant police department and ask for traffic crash records. You should then get put through to the right person.
Fees, Timing, and Access to Reports
Depending on the agency, you’ll be paying a fee of between $6 to $15 for an official crash report. MSHP charges $6, and local department charges vary.
MSHP instructs people to wait 10 days from the date of the crash before requesting the report, as it takes time for officers to complete their investigation. Reports are generally available within 7-10 days of the crash for MSHP and 3-7 business days for local agencies, though processing can take longer during busy periods.
Access to crash reports is typically granted to parties to the crash, insurance companies, and attorneys. You’ll need to provide your driver’s license number, the crash date, and the report number if you have it.
Common Fixable Errors vs. Disputed Facts
Not every error in the police report is fixable. Officers will typically correct wrong license plate numbers, driver names, incorrect vehicle descriptions, wrong street names, and other such objectively verifiable facts.
But disputed facts and errors that involve subjective or interpretative mistakes can be challenging or even impossible to change. Here’s a brief rundown of those “hard to correct” errors:
- Fault determinations
- Speed estimates (without dashcam or radar proof)
- Statements the officer personally heard
- Contributing circumstances like “failure to yield” when there’s no physical evidence
If the error is interpretive, you’ll need rock-solid evidence to shift the officer’s opinion. Often, those kinds of disagreements are fought out later with the insurance company or, if needed, in court.
30-Day Timeline: What to Do and When
Here’s a timeline that can help you manage getting the police report corrected in the month after the crash:
- Days 1-3: Request the official crash report and check the 29-day preliminary listing (if MSHP responded)
- Days 4-7: Receive and review the crash report.
- Days 8-12: If there are errors, contact the investigating officer with evidence and request a supplemental or amended report.
- Days 13-17: Follow up with the MSHP Patrol Records Division or a local agency to confirm the correction was filed.
- Days 18-22: Request an updated copy of the crash report. If the correction has been processed, it will show in the report.
- Days 23-27: File Form 1140 with the DOR, if required.
- Days 28-30: Confirm the corrections are finalized and retain copies of all documentation.
This timeline assumes everything goes smoothly. The process for corrections may take longer if an officer pushes back or the agency is experiencing a busy period.
FAQs
Can I correct a Missouri police report myself?
No. Only the investigating officer or their agency can file any official corrections. However, to increase your chances of getting the report corrected, gather concrete evidence and contact the officer who wrote the report. If the error is obvious and your proof is solid, they’ll likely file a supplemental or amended report with corrections.
What if the officer refuses to correct a mistake?
You can try to escalate the correction to an officer’s supervisor or the department’s traffic division commander. If the law enforcement agency refuses to correct a report or file a supplemental correction, you can dispute the report in insurance claims or court. Let your attorney or insurance adjuster know the report contains critical errors you tried to fix.
Do I need a lawyer to correct a crash report?
Not usually. Most corrections are straightforward, provided you’ve collected evidence. But if the error is causing serious insurance or legal problems (or if the agency refuses to fix the mistake), a personal injury attorney can formally dispute the report on your behalf.
What happens if I miss the 30-day Form 1140 deadline?
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 303.370, the Missouri DOR can issue a fine of up to $500 and suspend your license until you file the report. Late filing also complicates insurance claims. If you’re past 30 days, file Form 1140 immediately and explain the delay in a cover letter.
Police Report Incorrect? Bradley Law Can Help
If you’ve been in a crash and the report is wrong or you’re not sure whether mistakes are worth fighting, Bradley Law can help. Police report errors don’t fix themselves, and if your report contains a critical mistake that could jeopardize your insurance claim or lawsuit, take action as soon as possible.
We’ve recovered over $500 million for injury victims across Missouri and Illinois. Our team knows how to review crash reports, gather evidence, and work with agencies to file corrections.
Contact us today for a free case review to clarify your legal options and understand how to correct crash report errors.